Lever-operated valve.



PATENTED NOV. 10, 1903.

G. G. WIGKSON.

LEVER OPERATED VALVE.

APPLMATION FILED NOV. 2a. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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(To: "us" liners STATES- PatentediNovember 10, 1903. I

LEVER-OPERATED VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,787, dated November10, 1903. Application filed November 29, 1902- Serial No. 133,241. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

]3e it known that I, GEORGE G. WIOKSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inLever-Operated Valves, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. v

M y invention has relation to lever-operated valves; and it consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as herein afterdescribed.

This invention may be used to advantage for controlling the flow ofliquids in a number of instances; but the particular object of myinvention is to provide a Valve adapted to control the dew of milk froman elevated source of supply to a lower tank, whereby the volume, andconsequently the pressure, of the milk in the lower tank is maintainedat uniformity. This is of especial advantage for supplying milk tocentrifugal cream-separators. The valve proper is of such constructionthat it may be operated promptly in either opening or closing, and whenin an opened position offers a minimum amount of resistance to theliquid passing through the connection between the tanks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the valve, showing a float means of operation. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the valve located in a T connection. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the valve located in an L. connection, and Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the valve in closed position located in a coupling.

The valve consists of a casing l, which is provided at its upper endwith an annular seat 2, the form of the valve as shown in the drawingsbeing provided on its exterior with a thread 3, adapted to engage acorrespondin g thread in the interior of the fittings,which also act ashousings for the valve proper. The hollow valve-stem 4 fits Within theinner walls of the casing 1, which serve as a guide for the said stem.The said stem is hollow and is provided at its upper end with lateralopenings 5. The valve-plate 6 is located on top of the stem, the saidplate being of greater diameter than that of the stem. Consequently theedge of the valve-plate projects beyond the side of the stem. The lever7 is fulcrumed to the casing 1, and the inner end of said lever passesthrough an opening 8 in the side of the said casing, the extreme innerend of the said lever 7 engaging the lower portion of the valve-stem 4in any suitable manner.

As shown in the drawings, I provide a float 9 for manipulatingautomatically the lever 7 and the valve-stem 4L and its attachments; butany other suitable operating means may be substituted should occasionrequire.

In operation the valve 6 moves against the flow of the liquid. Theliquid passes through the pipe 10 in a direction as indicated by thearrows in Figs. 2 and 8. Presurning that the valve is in the position asshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the liquid passes through the openings 5,down through the hollow stem 4, and out through the lower end of thevalve-casing 1. As the outer end of the lever 7 is elevated the openin g5 gradually descends within the upper end of the casing 1, and the flowof theliquid is gradually checked until the valve assumes the positionas shown in Fig. 4., when the flow of the liquid is completely out off.In opening the valve the operation above described is reversed.Consequently in using the valve in the special application abovereferred to as the float 9 rises and lowers-upon the surface of theliquid previously passed through the valve the valve is operated (eitheropened or closed) and the level of the liquid in the lower tank (notshown in drawings) is maintained at uniform depth, and consequentlythere is a uniformity of pressure in the lower tank. This form of valveis such that it may be easily and quickly attached to any common form ofpipe-fittings-notably Ts,

L.s,and couplings-and the said fittings serve as a housing for the valveproper in any of the forms. This construction also provides a valvewhich is very convenient for ready cleansing and important especially inthe handling of milk. As notable when connect ed with a T-fitting, theplug at the outer end can be readily removed, also the valve and stem,and thus the entire valve, as also outlet from the upper tank, can beeasily reached by a brush for cleaning. The parts are of suchconstruction that they can be easily and readily interchanged or renewedwithout spe cial fittings.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- A valve consisting of a casing, its upperendforming a horizontal seat, said casing having an opening of uniformdiameter extendingthroughout, a hollow cylindrical stem fitting closelyalong its entire length within said casing, said stem having its lowerend open and its upper end closed, and being provided in its upperportion with lateral openings, a valve located at the upper end of thestem having an edge projecting horizontally beyond the sides of the stemand adapted to engage the horizontal seat at the upper end of thecasing, the lower end of said stein being provided on one side with aslot, said slot having unbroken, perpendicular side walls,

and opening at its lower end in the lower edge of the stem, lugs locatedwithin said stem diametrically opposite said slot, a lever fulcrumed tothe casing and passing through the same, the inner end of saidleverbeing lo cated between the said lugs, said slot adapted to receive thelever as the stem descends and thereby prevent said stem from rotating,said slot adapted to pass above the said lever when the stem is elevatedand thereby permitting said stem to rotate, and a means for operat ingsaid lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE G. WICKSON. Witnesses:

MELVILLE D. HENSEY, A. E. GLAsoooK.

